Alcohol abuse as a risk factor for and consequence of child abuse

The relationship between child abuse and the use or abuse of alcohol has tw o aspects. First, some findings have indicated that parental alcohol abuse may be associated with the physical or sexual abuse of children. Research f indings in this area remain inconsistent, however. Second, the experience o f being abused as a child may increase a person's risk for alcohol-related problems as an adult. This relationship has best been demonstrated in women who had been victims of childhood abuse. Several factors most likely contr ibute to or influence this relationship, including coping skills; antisocia l behavior; and psychological problems, such as posttraumatic stress disord er.